The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1855, Page 4

20 eee NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1856. VOL. XX. NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR, OFFICE N. W- CORNER OF NASSSU AND FULTON STS. | AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway—Guy Manyerina Gann. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Mv Neronnon’s Wire— MAssacks Or THE MICHILIAMAKINAC—FORTUNE'S FROKIC — Rk SOLDIER. IN'S THEAT' ror Youne Ma mbers street—Sorura’s Sur onLoiIn New Yoru. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Breadway—Tue Sivrens— Gunrienan ynom LuxLanp~—My Wiva’s Seconp Four. METROPOLITAN THEATRE, Broadway—Ornerro— My Naicunon’s Wire. AMERICAN MUS! To UsLicx Benson—Evei —Afternoon—Quire ar Homx— —Tne Wire. ‘WOOD'S VARIETIES—Mcchanics’ Hall,'472 Broadway. BUCKLEY'S OPERA HOUS zxy’s Erwiorian Orena TRov 539 Broadway—Buex- ‘New Yoru, Thursday, January 4, 0855. The News. We have received the annoul report of the Comp- twoller of the State of New York. It is a very long document, covering sixty nine pages, which would @i ten columns of the Heraxp, even if put in smal type. We cannot afford that space this morning, especially as the financial condition of the State is Biven in the Governor’s message, published yester. @ay morning. The Comptroiler’s report, however, ie an important and valuable document, and we shall ley it before our readers perhaps to morrow. By the arrival ot the Asia at Halifax we have ‘five days later ioteliigence from Europe. The most ‘mmportant feature in her news is, that Prussia de- lines to give her adhesion to the tripartite treaty, qmalitying her refusal by the despatch of a special envoy to London with a mission to open separate negotiations with the Western Powers on her own gecount. This may be regarded as a preliminary wep to the casting aside of the flimsy veil with which the Berlin Cabinet has hitherto sought to @isguise its Russian sympathies. As it is not likely ‘that the coalition will longer permit the continuance ef a neutrality which has not only interposéd obsta les to the advancement of their interestsin Germany, bat also virtually defeated one of the great objects of the war—that of crippling the commerce of Bussia—it is probable that Prussia will be at once @ompelled to decide on either of two alternatives— @ither a full and entire adhesion to the articles of ‘the new treaty, or a frank and open junction with Bussia. We have accounts from the Crimea up to the 13th wf December. The siege operations seem to have made but little way, and the state of forced inac- tivity to which the besiegera were reduced by the exhaustion of their previous efforts, seems to have been turned to account by the Russians, Mm the further strengthening of their defences: ‘The reporis of the ta ling off of their supplies of ‘ammunition are belied by the fact that from the 28d of November to tne 13th of December, daring which they had made a succession of vigorous sorties, the firing from their batteries was kept up @most incessantly. The Grand Dake Michael was e@bserved to be encouraging by his presence tho ef- forts of the besieged. Supplies of provisions were also said to have arrived in the town. From the preparations made for arming some of the Rassian vessels in the harbor, it was thought that they were about to put te sea with a view to intercapt the transports of the allies; and in the Baltic we also learn that they are again venturing out of ‘eir ports in that quarter. We shall therefore Probably hear of rome successful attempts at retalia- ‘Mon for the losses already inflicted on the Russian ommercial marine. In England, the bill for the enlistment of German mercenaries has met with vigorous opposition, not eoly in Parliament, but from the press and the pub- Me at large. The first reading has been passed in the Commons by a majority of 38; but the measure is 80 unpopular that it will probably be defeated in its subsequent stages. A proposition of the Chan- eellor of the Exchequer, to transfer the devosites of savings banks, amounting to £23,000,000 ster- Mog, from the Bank of Ragland into a government three per cent dent, has had. a most unfavorable effect u.0n the money market, being considered an M@timed ard impolitic measure, calculated to render She war unpopular with the masses. In the House -ef Commcns, Sir James Graham announced that Admiral Fanshawe was making vigorous efforts to . put down the slave trade in Cuba. All anxiety respecting the steamship Sarah Sands 4m now happily set at rest. The Avia reports pass- ‘ing her on the 24th ult., off Kinsdalo, bound east- ward. We refer to our summary of the news for reports of the state of the markets. ‘We have received our files of the Diario de Avisos fom Caraces, Venezuela, tothe. 6th of December. The Legisiature was still in session, but we do not ind in the report of its proceedings anything @eserving of especial notice. in some districts of he republic the cholera was making fearfal ravages- ‘The Diario publishes a long article, continued @hrough successive numbers, on the prosperity of ‘the United States, and reviewsour political, religious and educational institutions. The article is favora- ‘Die, and tolerably correct ia its statements. ‘The steamer Thomas F. Ray, on the White River, Arkansas, when fifty miles above its mouth, on the 2th December, burst her mud-pipe, by which cev ‘eral lives were lost. Major Merrill was on board, with a party of United States soldiers en route for Wort Washita. Four soldiers andoue of the crow ‘were drowned, and ten other soldiers and several of ‘the crew were severely scalded. There was no mod- ies) aid within fifty miles, and the boat could not be wepaired for several days. Major Merrill escaped ‘without injury, and was doing al! he could for the poor sufferers. The Board of Aldermen held the second meeting of the January session last evening, the first meet- ‘ing having been devoted to the organizetion of the bedy and the appointment of its President and e@lerks. The Board resolved to meet on Monday, Wednesday and Frideyef each week. The Comp- troller was directed to report to the Board the amennt of money paid to.certain papers for adver- ‘tising. Nomivations made by the Mayor were con- firmed, except the appointments of clerks of courts, which were laid on the table. A lengthy petition ‘wae received from the working men of the city; but ae tt involved the expenditure of money, it was with- @awn for presentation to the Board of Councilmen. A communication from the Commissioner of Streets tnd Lamps, presenting the names of several parties ‘Por confirmation, was laid on the table. The Trinity @uarchyard matter was again breaght up, and ra fered to a rpecial committee. The annual report ofthe Croton Aquedact Department was received, and shows that the amount received by tex for wa- ter in the year 1854 was $408,968 16. The appro priatione for that period were $229,446 25, and the expenditeres were $215,112 23, leaving a sum of 413,92 92. A resolrtion of the Councilmen, appro- priating $5,000 for printing, was concurred in. The Board of Councilmen met last evenieg. The petition of B. Gatney, and the remonstnnce g Daniel 8. Maciarlane respecting the alleged ixrog@inrities im the ejection in the Fift'eth Council disirict, were Feferred to aspecial committee. A resolution apyro priating five thousand dollars to the Board of Alder: men for printing was adopted. The resolution frour the Aldermen directing a stay of proceedings in the matter of opening Albany street was received and aid over. Upon going into an election for offivers of the Board, the ineambents of last year were re- elosted. A resolntion inviting a deputation from the workingmen’s meting to apoear bofore the Board in support of Lhe x i for ald, was re @rred to a committes e, much to the disap pointment of the memorialiste and their friends, it being regarded as a virtwal rejection of the subject Yesterday morning, at about 3 o’clock, a fire took place in the store of 0. & A. Wetmore, Nos. 71 and 73 Water street, wholesale grocéra. Tae baild- ‘ing was not consumed, but a considerabie amount of property was destroyed. A report will be found elsewhere. A caucus of democratic members of Congress was held st Washington yesterday, to consider the pro priety of revising the tariff. It was resolved that a reduction of duties to the revenue standard should be made during the present session of Con- grees. Mr. Walbridge brought up his proposal to abolish the coal duty, when Senator Brodhead stated that the Pennsylvanians would offer no op- porition to the measure, The Senate yesterday was mainly occupied ia dis- cussing the provisions of Mr. Brodhead’s bill grant- ing bounty lands to soldiers in certain cases. In the House, yesterday, Mr. Keitt, of South Carolina, mace a slashing speech against the Kuow Nothings, assuming that the organization is detri- mental to State rights and disturbs the sanctity of the social relaticn. It may be well for our readars to keep posted up respecting the movement in Uoa gress for and against the Know Notbings. The first step was taken in the House by Mr.Bollers, of Maryland, who advocated an extension of th» pro- bationary term of foreigners. He was shortly after followed by Senator Adams, of Mississippi, wne in- troduced a bill abolishing existing laws on the sub" ject of naturalization, and requirivg a residence of twenty-one years to entitle aliens to citizenship. Mr. Barry, of Mississippi, in the House, denounced the proceedings of his colleague and tne principles of the new party. He was replied to by Mr, Banks, of Massachusetts, whois a prominent cham- pion of the new party. On the occasion of the de- pate upon the bill to repeal the Kansas-Nebraska act, Mr. Campbell,of Ohio, and Stephens, of Geor- gia, incidentally alluded to the subject, though nos in a marked manner. Mr. Keitt’s speech will no doubt call forth a reply from some un: expected quarter. Mr. Clingman made a speech in support of his resolution requesting the President tomediate between the belligerent European powers. It was stated by Mr. Bayly that our government had already taken this matter into consideration, and had made overtures to mediate in the existing difficulties in Europe. There is nothing new in this statement to any reader of the Heravp, for we stated soon atter the departure of Mr. Carroll Spence, in the San Jacinto, for Constantinople, that a part of bis instructions were to offer the mediation of the United States in the pending troubles bs- twéen the Western Powers, Tarkey and Rassia; bat he waa so long in reaching his post that it was deemed too late to make the proffer, for when he received his instructions hostilities bad not even been declared. The mediation was desigaed to settle the difficulty before hostilities commenced. We publish to-day the message of the Presiden’ giving his views on the important question of the constitutionality of Congress making internal im- provements. It is regarded by the democrats asa complete “ settler” of this vexatious subject; but as some half dozen former Presidents have heretofore vetoed about the same number of bills of a similar character as that killed off by Mr. Pierce, without settling the matter, we should not be at all sur- prised to see another opportunity offered for the interposition of the veto power before the 4th of March next. Little business has been transacted in the Jaw courts since the commencement of the year, and few jury cases have as yet been tried. We refer our readers to the letter of our Albany correspondent, under the telegraphic head, for a sketch of the proceedings in the Legislature yester. day. The Know Nothings claim a victory on the question of appointing chaplains. The report that the sloop-of-war Albany was at Laguayra on the 8th of October is probably as groundlees as that she was at Carthagena on the 10th of the same month. We have received six or eight weeks later advices from both places, and we are of the opinion that if she had touched at either port some one of the two hundred persons on board would have written home. The Governor of Michigan, in his recent message, recommends the repeal of the prohibitory liqaor law, and the passage of an act prohibiting the sale of liquor in Jess quantity than one or more gallons in its stead. By a reference to our money article and the tele- graphic despatches, it will “be seen that several ex. tensive commercial houses have recently succumbed to the financial storm, and that others are shortly expected to follow. A meeting was held at the Corn Exchange yes- terday, when the committe appointed to make col. lections for the suffering poor of the city announced that they had collected $4,000. A committee of five was appointed to make a distribution of the eame. William O’Brien, who was shot on New Year's evening, by Joseph Hall, at a grocery store corner of Grand and Laurens street, died last night in the New York Hospital, from the injury received. The Coroner will hold an inquest on the body. Flour was some what easier to purchase yesterday, at previous rates, thougi many holders continued firm. Missouri wheat sold at $2 37}, and Ganadiaa do. at $2 15. Indian corn was higher, with sales at $1 Ola $1 02. Pork was dalla contract was set- tled for mess, at $12 50. Beef was steady, but icas active. Lard ranged from 10jc. a 10}c. The sales of cotton reached from 1,600 to 2,000 bales, estab- lishing a decline of jc. since the Atlantio’s news. We quote middling Uplands at 7jc., Florida and Mobile at 77(c. a 8c.,and New Orleans, which was scarce, at Sic. a 8jc., and some lota wore held at Sic, Ccnsiderable lots were offering for shipment to Liverpool, most of which going forward, was being transferred from one vessel to another, without going into store. Our Relations with Spain—Fresh Cuban Out- rages=What will the Administration Do} We publish to-day an interesting and traly American letter from Mr. John S. Thrasher, of New Orleans, to the Secretary of State, touch- ing the arrest and imprisonment of two Ameri- can citizens (a new case) by the authorities of the island of Caba. Our copy is trom the files ef the State Department, and from the same sourcg, from time to time, we expect additional doc@@ents upon our foreign affairs for the in- formation of Congress and the American peo- ple. It is well known that the most important official papers in reference to our diplomatic relations, especially in regard to Soulé’s pro- ceedings at Madrid, and the Ostend convention, have been withheld from Congress. We have given the substance of these papers heretofore ; and, if the House or the Senate at Washington do not, within a reasonable time, call for these papers, and lay them before the public, we may, perhaps, feel compelled to discharge that duty ourselves to the country. It is substantially eonceded by the Kitchen organ at Washington, that Marey, in behalf of the administration, is preparing a message, which is shortly to be sent up to the two houses, upon our relaticas with Spain. A well informed reperter has apprised us that this message is to be of @ more belligerent tone than the milk and water annual message of December. sage is delayed the more we are apprehensive that the present fit of Cabinet courage will be overruled by Marcy in another dose of milk ani water. Cushing, Jeff. Davis, and their Kitehen league in support of Buchanan must follow up their existing advantage over Marcy, or he may frighten the President into the aving alternative of backiog out ageio. We | know that the influence of Marcy, over his offi- cial superior is very great, and it is exercised in a very despotic way. For example, if the Premier wishes to consult Mr. Pierce, he sends a messenger to the White House to “teil the President [ want to see him,” and over the President goes. The Buchanan league, therefore, should not allow the present bold and belligerent temper of the President to get cool; for if they do, Marcy, with his soothing system, will win, and the joint labors of the Ostend convention and the Kitchen Cabinet to place Buchanan on a war footing for the succession, as the annointed favorite of the White House, will all have been tbrown away. Olearly, it is the policy of the Kitchen conspiracy to strike while the iron is hot, and to hurry up the message, while yet, upon the question of boldness or caution, conciliation or guapowder, they hold the President subject to their dicta- tion. A fair morning may be succeeded by a cloudy afternoon within as well as without the executive mansion. If the message is delayed another week, we may expect to receive it di- luted by Marcy into another dish of milk and water. By all means, then, let the Kitchen co- alition hurry up the message, The case of the arrest and imprisonment, in Cuba, of the two American citizens in whose behalf Mr. Thrasher pleads so earnestly and feelingly, should be instantly seized hold of by Cushing and Davis to hurry up the message. Let them remind the Executive of the Inaugu- ral, which he has probably forgotten under the pressure of the late elections; let them read it to him, and insist that it shall be carried out; let them read to him, in the presence of Marcy, the Kozsta letter, from beginning to end, and insist upon a response to Mr. Thrasher, and a message to Congress consistent with the valiant vindication of the Hungarian refagee. After baving sent a vessel of war to Asia for Kossuth, shall we hesitate in demanding at least the common: forms of civilized jus- tice to American citizens arrested upon a pretext, and imprisoned in the filthy Spanish dungeons of Cuba, subjected to such tortures and outrages as those recited in Mr. Thrasher’s letter? Never; let the Greytown squadron be hauled up in front of Havana, with a requisi- tion in behalf of all American citizens impris- oned in the island, (for we know not howmany may be there) simultaneously with the message to Congress. Let this be done, and the admin- istration may yet make a telling sensation against the Know Nothings, and against Marcy and in behalf of Buchanan. It is evidently a loss of time to wait any longer for something decisive upon our Spanish relations from Madrid. Soulé has been receiv- ed there, on his return, with indifference; and his applications for a resumption of negotiations have been treated with contempt, cool con- tempt. Espartero bas no time to attend to the urgent appeals of our minist-r. Soulé is man- ifestly powerless. They will: have nothing more to do with him. If, therefore, we are to bave a diversion to bring our affairs with Spain to a focus, it must be made at Washing- ton. And now is the time. Two months are all that remain of the present session. Con- grese will require some days to deliberate upon @ positive belligerent message, especially ir it shall involve the application of the last session for a discretionary appropriatios of ten millions. Every day’s delay isa day gained to Marcy and his old fogy peace policy. Justice to Bu- chanen in his absence, requires that the ulti- matum of the administration should go up without further postponement or softening. The war message should go up in advance of the adop:ion of the peace commission to Eu- rope, otherwise the two questions may conflict with and defeat each other. We are anxiously waiting the delivery of this promised message. We understand that it is to be limited to the vindication of the rights of our commerce end our citizens in Caba; and to full, prompt and specific reparation and indem- nity for past outrages upon our commerce and our citizens in that island, and full security against their recurrence for the future. In this view, the message may involve the contingen- cy of a bombardment or two, and the applica- tion for instructions anda few discretionary millions for the recess of Congress. But to this end, the success of Buchanan—nay, the very existence-of the administration as the head of the spoils democracy, depends upon boldness and despatch. : Meantime the two American citizens whose case has been laid before Marcy by Mr. Thrash- er, call for the immediate interposition of the government in their behalf. Here is a case for an emphatic interpretation of the inaugural and the Koszta letter—a-clear case. We shall see what they will make.of it. But for fear that it may be forgotten in the squabbles between the Cabinet and the Kitchen for the right to the succession, it would perhaps be as well for the House of Representatives to take the initiative in a resolution asking for information upon the subject. A weak and crippled administration like this, in every case of difficulty should be instantly relieved by Congress, Lieets ann Tae Lise, Law.—We notice that several of our cotemporaries are very much distressed about the law of libel, and that trey are dispensing a ierge amount of useful infor- mation on the subject of libels in general, the But the Jonger this extra mes- | demonstration at present being caused by a verdict of four or five hundred dollars being rendered against the Afirror. With their sympathy for Fuller, they blend their owa grievances, arising from verdicts rendered against them in former times. The Tribune goes farther than any of them, and appeals to the Legislature for aid against libel cuits, The Tribune, for its vile charges against Mr. Chief Engineer Carron, had to pay four or five thou- sand dollars, besides a great deal of trouble and annoyance. Now it is curious to witness the excitement among our venerable cotemporaries when the poisoned chalice is returned to their own lips, as in the verdicts and expenses of settloments which have lately taken place. Every one re- members the exukation with which the whole of them applauded the outrage upon law aad evidence which was committed in the verdict against vs in the Fry case. In that case it was not alleged that one word had been priated against the private character of the plaintiff. it was simply the record of the natural remarks which would rise up to any person on | seeing @ public amusement mis-minaged by squabbles between managers and artists, day after day, week after week, moath after montb. mismanagement of h's case be was pre- vemed from bringing evidenee to justify. The libel against Carson in the Zribune was Ta the case of Fuller, from the | of the vilest description, and altogether repug- nant to the upright and honorable character | which Mr. Carson has always borne in this | community. All the offence in the Fry case was contained in a criticiam of a public amuse- meut—a right which we contend that we pos- sess by law. The outrageous verdict was pro- cured by improper influences, encouraged, sauc- tioned, and brought about by the very joarnals that are now weeping, wailing and gaashing their teeth over the verdicts which have lately been rendered against them But we do not mean to submit to this infa- mous verdict, if there is law and justice to be had in the legal tribunals of the land: it was a verdict contrary to evidence—contrary to the liberty ot the press—contrary to common sense, and contrary to the eterual principles of right and truth, pints of the Revulston. On Tuesday last the holders of Illinois bonds were told by the State agent here that no money was forthcoming to pay theirinterest due on the Ist January. Itis alleged that the State had remitted the money to Messrs. Wads- worth & Sheidon, but that the funds had been employed in the general crash of that house. It ie difficult to ascertain how this may ed and productive;” but that on the coatrary the best of them eannot close their constraction account, and hardly any pay dividends, Iustead of “imparting to the country recuperative pow- ers,” the enterprises which have absorbed the | bulk of the funds issued during the late expan- | sion are at present the most in need of aid | themselves: witness the Erie and Central Rail- roads, which cost seventy millions between | them, and are now in the market for fresh loans. The fact is, the present revulsion is as nearly a repetition of that of 1837 as can well be im- agined. The country is undoubtedly richer now than it then was; but the expansion has been far greater. Then it was bank credits alone; now it is bank credits, railway credits, city cre- dits, State credits. The same extravagance in private life marked both periods; rapid fortunes preceded both; appalling disasters followed the one, and are already beginning to bear witness to the other. In 1836, the voice of warning was utterly uaheeded and derided: in Novem- ber, 1853, the Messrs, De Coppet devoted a spe- cial circular to proving the Heratp—which warned the public of coming trouble—a false prophet. In the midst of the disasters of 1837, people were heard to predict that “next week things were sure to improve;” and now when be; Illinois has certainly been flush of late; but until payments are resumed, the presumption of insolvency is sure to rest upon the real debtor—the State—and not upon the mere financial agent employed here. When Illinois takes measures to redeem her credit, and satisfy the claims of those who have given their money for her paper, it will be time enough to release her from responsibility for the suspension of Tuesday. Her past financial history forbids any indulgence being shown to her on this oc- casion. It isnot to be disguised that this untoward event will go along way towards shaking the entire fabric of State credits. The past few months have witnessed a series of disasters affecting most gravely corporate and iodividaal credit, and tending to take away from moneyed institutions and merchants the means ou waich they have traded for the last year or two. Stocks of various kinds have ceased to exist altogether, railroad shares have fallen to the verge of bankruptcy, individual paper has ceased tobe negotiable, bank notes have de- preciated; it is not unnatural that the public should look with uneasiness to the remaining class of securities—State bonds—and should take alarm at the first symptom of danger in that quarter. Indiana and Missouri stocks have already experienced the decline incident to a pressure of large lots of paper for imme- diate sale. Virginia is understood to have suf- fered severely in consequence of the suspension of Selden, Withers & Co., their financial agents at Washington. And now, Illinois fails to pay her interest in New York. Taking into ac- count the antecedents of one or two of these States, these facts contain very substantial ground for upprehension. There are people who still adhere to the fal- lacy—put forth a few weeks ago—to the effect that “the crisis” had past, and that the coan- try was in a tair way of recovery. Prominent among these we find a class of mercantile men whose chief business is the investing of foreign money in American securities, and who, haviag bought for their customers large quantities of stock, now heavily depreciated, are zealously attempting to restore a buoyant tone to the market, so as to enable their triends to sell out, Many of these have involved themselves and their credit so deeply, that nothing short ot a revival of confidence can save them. This mo- tive may account for some of the singular misapprehensions which pervade the financial circulars at present issued from New York. Ia their annual circular, dated December 30, the house of De Coppet devote much space to drawing distinctions between the revulsion of 1837 and the present one, and endeavor to show “that the existing embarassment” is a trifling one, Their main argument is that the bank loans and discounts have not exorbitantly incceased of late years, and that c nsequently there has been no such expansion as calls for any serious and prolonged contraction. To show this Messrs. De Coppet compare the figures, which are as | follows:— Bank loans and discounts in 1837, Do. do. 1854, $525,115, 702 $007,287,428, It would have been fairer to have given the figures for a few other years, so as to illustrate the expansion, as follows:— Bank Loans anp Discounts 1x Rounp Nompens. a 200,000,000 ‘324,000,000 526,000,000 392,000,000 254,000,000 310,000,000 413,000,000 ++ 607,000,000 This table presents the analogy between 1837 and 1854 in rather a plainer light than seemed good to Messrs. De Coppet. With the help of their own, they say:— | _ The expansion which at first glance would appear in | banking is, therefore, not very great, considering the in- United States from’ 1837 to 1804; whilst the increase of specie in the country since the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, amounting to about $12,000,000, exceeds con- yalued then in one of the messages of the President at $80,000,000, If, therefore, we keep account of the impe- tus given to the great manufacturing interests of the country, of the increase of gold, of the agricultural pro- and productive, and we are brought to the conclusion that tke present condition is not analogous to that of 1837, and that if the creation in so short a period of the various and {mportant resources has contribated to bring about the financial erisis through which we are passing, it has imparted to the whole country recuperative pow: ers which will greatly assist it in extricating itself from its present embarrassment. If it were true that no other inflation than an increase of three hundred millions of dollars in bank loans and discounts had taken place €uring the last six years, the country might hope with Messrs, DeCoppet that recovery was athand. True, neither territory nor wealth dred per cent in six years,as our bank loans ' have done; but three hundred millions might be managed. . The fatal error which the writers | of the circular have made is to omit altogether all mention of the enormous amounts of rail- road and other similar securities which have been manufactured of late years, and scattered over the country, Three hundred millions bear a very small proportion to the sum which ‘has been raised within the last ten years in the | shape of railroad bonds and stocks, city and State bonds and similar paper representatives of money. Five hundred millions woutd in- | adequately cover the total amoent of paper secorities which have been issued in one form or other on account of railroads alone: not to speak of those issued for building, mining, | manufacturing and similar purposes, Wow, it is notorious that the nineteen thousand miles of railroad which have been made with the help of tuis enormous expansion of paper are not, m the circular would have us believe,"‘now finish- and will soon be over. | crease of territory, of population, and of wealth in the | siderably the amount existing in the country in 1837,an4 | duce, of the tonnage of the merchant navy, of the con- | | struetion of about 19,000 miles of railroad now finished | nor population increase at the rate of one hun- | the evil day is upon us, and failures occur at the rate of five millions a day, the Messrs. De Coppet and others talk of the “recuperative powers” of the country, and encourage their correspondents to believe that all is bright ahead. Doubless even—if any could recollect such trifles—there were people in 1837 to pro- poseseriously that inaid of the starving me- chanics, the fashionables of Fifth avenue should meet, dance, make merry, and drink champagne! A Mopesr Sromsmay.—It appears from our telegraphic advices from Washington that Senor Francisco de Arrangois, late Mexican Consul General to this country, has appro- priated sixty-eight thousand dollars of the Gadsden treaty money as his pay for receiving it in behalf of Mexico, and has resigned his office and refused a first class mission, rather than give up his perquisites. Modest man! The Kitchen Cabinet are right. Why didn’t he make it two hundred thousand while he was about it? What a pity that, before taking out his pay, Senor Arrangois did not consult Col. Forney. Modest Mexican, after having been at Washington so long! THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, A REVISION OF THE TARIFF DECIDED ON, Repeal of the Liquor Law in Michigan. Know Nothing Triumph in the Assembly &e., &o., &e, Very Interesting from Washington. IMPORTANT CAUCUS~ THE REVISION OF THE TARIFE— THE REPEAL OF THE COAL DUTIES —MR. SICKLES HAS NOT RESIGNED. Wasmvatox, Jan. 3, 1855. The caucus of democratic members to consider the propriety of amending the tariff of 46, met in the hall of the House of Representatives this evening with closed doors. Only some forty members were in attendance. Senator Toucey was called to the chair, and Mr Barks- dale, of Miss., acted as Secretary. Speeches were made by Senators Hunter and Brodhead, General Walbridge, Mr. Letcher andothers. Mr. Waloridge introduced the subject of the repeal ot the duty on coal. Mr. Brod- head said the people of Pennsylvania felt no interest in the subject, and would offer no opposition to the repeal. Mr. Walbridge replied that he trusted when the matter came before Congress Mr. Brodhead would give his testimony to this effect. Several resolutions were pro- posed and voted cown, of Tennessee, was adopted, not without opposition:— Resolved, That it is right and proper that the present | rates of duty imposed upon goods, wares and morchan- dise imported into the United States from foreign coun- tries, should be so far modified and reduced, during the | present session of Congress, preserving the principles of | the tariff of 1846, as vo waterially diminish the anaual | amoun; of revenue collected from customs, | The caucus then adjourned. It is understood an ef- | fort will be made to-morrow to take up the questioa of the modification of the tariff in Congress and press it to a resolution. But there is no general feeling amongst | members, and the probability is the effort will not im- mediately succeed. Mr. Daniel E. Sickles arrived here this evening. ‘The | rumor that he has resigued is destitute of foundation. | MORE CUBAN OUTRAGES AGAINST AMERICAN cITI- | ZENSLETTER OF MR. THRASHER TO SECRETARY | MARCY—WHAT WILL THEY DO ?—THE MBXICAN | CONSUL GENERAL'S SHARE OF THE GADSDEN TREATY | MONBY—GONE OFF WITH IT. WAsuixeTox, Jan. 3, 1855, | For public information 1 hasten to transmit you acopy | of a letter very lately received at the State Department, | which is as follows:— New Oavnans, Dec. 25, 1854. | Hox. Wu. L. Marcy, Secretary of State:— Sm—It hag deen stated in several of the public prints | that two persons, said to be .\merican citizens, lately | arrested in Baracoa, Cuba, are to be subjected by Gen. Concha to the same ordeal that I was subjected to in Havana some three years since; ani this statement being confirmed by a letter from Col. W. H. Robertson, our acting Consul at Havana, published in this evening's Picayune, Tam induced to address you on the sabject in order respectfully to urge that the Department of State take such steps in the matter as in my belief will | save those persons from much of the terrible suffering 1 ‘was compelled to undergo, and ensure trath and justice in the proceedings. The usual course parsued by the Spanish government in Cubs, in these cases, is to confine the accused for days, and sometimes for weeks, in the strictest solitary con‘ine- ment, communication with any person being absolutely | prohibited, When the physical and mental powers of the nsed become sufficiently debilitated by the ageny of this confinement, the fiscal or pro- secuting attorney of the Court proceeds to his | dungeon, and he is sabjected to the most stringent and searching questioning that the wit of men long prac- | tised in the subtleties of the law can devise. Fancied | facts and declarations of other parties are cited; m-- | naces and delusive promises are made; opinions sap- | posed to be entertained are sedulously sought for, nc- | companied with the fallacious assertion ‘that the gov- ernment does not punish for them, but only for acts;’ and every artifice is used to make the accused lay bare | every act of his life, and to contradict himself in his statements, in order that the confliction in his testimony may weaken his assertions of innocence. These declara | tions by the accused are all taken down in writing, and constitute the basis of the process against him by a gor ernment whose ouly aim is not to fail in a prosecution. because it weakens its moral power. | Any one, even the most innocent, eubjected to the | | horrors of such an ordeal, without friend or conse! | © Atlength the following resolution, offered by Mr.Jones, | | tory. They claim Mr. Littlejohn, the Speaker, | bebalf of the members. The | Should he omit to invite either of near, wast have a strength of constit physically | and mentally, that is seldom found, to enable him to bear up against them. Tcan say this truly, for I it from bitter experience merican citizens hope to find protection from these influences in the nth article of the treaty of 1 between the United of A *& and Spain, which | reads as follows: — And in all cases of sei deb now Oe € g in citlens and subjects of bo parties wha proceeding in such | | exominations and | | said trials, | If the Spanich government be these «tipulations, and ellow th sreely chosen *' to be present at the proceedings la such | niduoed to comply with we counsel for the defence | | been ¥ causes and at the taking of all examinations and evidehoe which may be exhibited in said trials,” it will be freed from any accusation of partiality and injustice; and there can be mo reason to believe that the presence of such counsel for defence would interfere with the elisita~. tion of the truth, or that it would cause subterfuge and delay, as supposed by Gen. Concha in his letter to the Spanish Minister at Washington regarding my case. If the desire of the Spanish government in Cuba is, ag it asserta, simply to do justice to all, it would seem that there could be no valid rearon why it should evade the stipulations of the treaty, and persist in practically de- nying to an accused perron the benefit of counsel and defence, This ancient rule of law has been long since abrogated among c vilized nations, A contrary course ig. the trial of any American citizen in Cuba can only gather new complications around the already numerous ques~ tions pending betwern the two governments, and increase the neceseary requests for copies of testimony and pro- ceedings before the Spanish courts, which you have Ld often and so uravcoessfully made for me. In respectfully urging the con:ideration of these views upon the depar'ment of State; I must say that I have no krowledge of the persons now under arrest in Cuba, nor of their acts, further than what I read in the public prints, and my only wishvis to see justice accorded to my fellow citizens there, \ I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. 8, THRASHER. This case-may probably be incorporated into the sche- dule of Cuban outrages which, it is understood, will form the basis of the President’s forthcoming message to Congress on the subject of our relations with 3; Marcy is struggling hard to delay this message; but pressure of Cusning, Jeff Davis, Forney, and the Kitchem Cabinet is strong—so strong, that you may shortly ex- pect the document. Cushing says that Marcy in this State paper will be compelled to write his own death- warrant. Nous verrons. The Mexican Consul General, Don Francisco de Arran- gois, who was the custodian, in behalf of the Mexicam government, of $6,800,000 of the Gadsden treaty money}, appropriated to himself a commission of one per cent upon the amount, of which fact he duly informed Santa Anna, The Mexican Dictator thought this too large a haul, and wrote back to Arrangois to refund the money), on the ground that his services in this matter were paid for out of his annual salary of $3,000, as Consul Gene- ral. As an inducement, however, to surrender the sixty- eight thousand, Santa Anna offered Arrangois the post ot Minister at Washington. But Arrangois preferred the bard cash, and so he declined the mission; and re-' signing his Consulate, will probably make the tour of Europe in search of General Arista. The Kitchen Cabinet think Arrangois was a d——d fool in not making it at least two hundred thousand, while’ he was about it., Why not? PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPREME COURT, Wasiaron, Jan. 3, 1856. No. 7—Robert Wickliffe vs. Thomas D. Ouin; —— from Circuit “ourt for the District of Kentucky; Judge Campbell delivered the opinion of the. reversil and annulling the decree of the said Circuit Court, wit conts, rendering decree en favor of cares rt. Ne. —Israel W. Raymon: .) V8, Wm. the Circult Court for the Northern District of California; Judge Wayne delivered the opinion of the court, revers- ing the decree of the said Circuit Court, with costs, and remanding the cause with instructions to dismiss the libel. No. 56—James N. Olney va. ip &e., George Law et al. claimants—Appeal from Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York; Judge Mc- Lean delivered the opinion of the court, dismissing the appeal for want of jurisdiction, No. 57—James Udall vs Steamship Ohio, &e, George Law et al. claim- ants—Appeal fram Circuit Court for South District of New York; luéye- McLean delive: the opinion ofthe court, dismissing the. appeal for want of jurisdiction. No. 5. Josiah 8, Stafford and wife vs. " On motion of Messrs. Hale and rict Judge of the United States for Texas, Ji McLean de- livered the opinion of the court, ordering rule to be made absolute, and awarding posi mandamus, a8 prayed for. No. 6. Original case, ez parte Josiah 8. Stafford and wife vs. New Orleans Canal and Banking Company. On motion cf Messrs. Halv.and Coxe for rule on Dhstrict Judge of the United States for Texas, some Mclean delivered the opinion of the court, ordering the ' rule to be made absolute and awarding a peremp' mandamus, as prayed for. Nos. 38 ‘and 30. James Wil- Vias administrator, vs. Robert Olivers, and Johm Good: ngs vs. Robert Olivers. Argument commenced by H. Winter Davis for appellants. t RUMORED REMOVAL. Wasuinaton, Jan. 3, 1855, The Star says that John E. Warren has been removed —— Kee of District Attorney of Minmesota, by the resident Interesting from Albany, \ THE CHAPLAIN OF THE ASSEMBLY—TRIUMPH OF THE KNOW NOTHINGS—THE NEW LIQUOR BILL—THE LEMMON ®LAVE CASE, ETC. Aupaxy, Jan..3, 1855. In the House of Assembly, to-day, the Hon, Charles C, Leigh offered a resolution appointing » committee to invi'e all ministers of the Gospel, having charge of con- gregations, taopen the daily sessions with prayer, im. such order as may be converient to themselves, The question was about being put, when the Hon. Seth B. Cole, a whig Maine law member, fromthe county of Steuben, offered an amendment, authorizing the Speaker to extend the invitations, and to exercise his discretion. , in the matter. Mr. O’Keefe opposed the amendment, : | and hoped the usual course of inviting all clergymen would be adopted. He called the ayes and noes, and the- amendment waa carried—ayes, 66; noes, 65. Mr. Leigh then offered another proposition, instructing the Speaker to invite all clergymen, without regard their | theological opimons. This was lost by a. vote of 51 ayes to 70 noes, Mr. Seymour, dem., of Liv- ingston, preferzod n chaplain of the Methodist faith; but no question was taken on his proposition, treating the ntleman rather cavalier! Mr. Mundy, anti-Maine w, irom the Fourteenth district, New York city, pre- ferred to lay the subjec: on the table for the preseut, being evidently weary of the proceedings, and moved ta postpoue further action until Sunday morning next. ‘The Speaker very properly decided the motion-to be out of order, Mr. O'Keefe rose and said, he should like information upon the subject. He wanted to know the — objeet of the resolution, as it stands amended. If it means any- thing, it seemed to him to aim at the exclusionof some re- ligious denomination, and he desired to know which deno- pepo = ho} Ferrel pyr mad inform him, ever since the organization of the State governmont, it has been the Practice of the Legisiature to employ all ‘ters, without any partiality. Mr. O’Keefe said he perteetly in the dark in this matter. He occa- room at the American Hotel. into which all per- 1@ welcome to come; but there are othergentiemen keep locks on their doors, and keys in their pock- ets. If itis the desivn of this resolution to exelade mi- nisters whose congregations are numbered by tnousands and millions of persons, then he was ready to discuss the right of admitting those ministers as wellas others, This question, this movement is sufticient to exeite my-risi- bility, and to arouse my theological ideas. Tell me, said he, What you are driving at, and then the subject can be discussed in om understanding manner, At the conclu- sion of histemarks, no one volunteered to re ly, though the House burst out in a general roar of pam P Mr. Baker, of Montgomery, thought it wrong to exclude any mivister of e ther of the religious orders; and Dr. Hull, of the same county, wished to proceed, in the morning, to elect a chaplain by ballot, Mr. Williams, of New York, called for the previous question, which was sustained by a vote of 66 to 44. ‘ ‘this is the resolution:— Resolved, That the selection of Chaplain be left with the discretion of the Speaker. The Know Nothings claim this vote as their first vie- asa mem- ber of the order, and hints are thrown ont that he wil? invite none but Protestant divines to offer up prayers in bility is now in his it and difficalty. dozen Catan clergymen in the city, he will carry out the wishes of bends, and it is one of no ordinary a | ji ad t ~ ‘ the sixty-six members who voted for the nes tion, on the coutrary, should he include his in- | Vitation, the Know Nothings will seek vengeance and Tetribution. This vote shown their in the \ House, which is a sure test upon the question of United States Senator so s Mr. Seward is though should his name be Se t forward, several democrate who voted against the Kuow Nothings to-day, will be with them on such an occasion, Assembly chamber this morning. The Hon. Nicholas Seagrist, iamiliarly known as the “Sage of Bloomingdale,’’ who no doubt will represent the Sixtenth Assembly district of the city with marked ability, appeared ibis morning, took the oath of o and entered upon the duties of legislation. He ween against the Kuow Nothings, in the House, on the chap- lain resolution Mr, Aitken proseated the moworial of Nicholas Quack- who contests the seat taken by Robert B. yleman, M. O'Keefe intends to introduce a bill for tho «np- pression of the sale and use of narcotics, This move- ment bas undoubtedly arisen in consequence of the Camuing facts disc osed by New York dentists, whils de- liberating ever the Beale care. h is in favor of an carty adjournment, proha- pun as William H. Seward’ s ease and the Protitvi- pill are disposed of. He kus proposed the firat ay {arch ay the proper time, but the majority thiak too curly in the session to desicnate a day, it s the great con: mal argument in the Lemmon case is soon coming off. A rssolution was of- fered to~ theorising the Go rernor to employ counsel ey General. vil ix alrealy announced. Mr. Leigh © this rorning that he intended to it in the course of « few days, Wich all the * of ibe prohibitioni«ts that they have the rand Legislature, they begin to understand that the bill of Jast year canaot be aguin adopted, ROMAN CATHOLIC EXCITEMENT. Atmasy, Jan, 0, 1855. Consilerable exeitement ia brewing here in eonse- lowing transaction, which has not yet but which will be fally exposed in to- S papers: —Mrs. Parmalee, the wire of Visited the Aim: House on Samtay last, aad mon be Mayor, “Sam” was about the |